Defensive line coach Larry Johnson is shown here on the Penn State sidelines in 2012. He is Ohio State's new defensive line coach for the 2014 team. / AP

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Larry Phillips

CentralOhio.com

Chris Ash

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COLUMBUS — No one argues that the Ohio State defense was the culprit in the demise of the 2013 season.

The Buckeyes were 15 minutes from the BCS National Championship Game — while leading Michigan State 24-21 heading into the fourth quarter of the Big Ten Conference title game — when the defense collapsed repeatedly. It followed with a disastrous Orange Bowl effort, where Ohio State lost for the first time in school history when scoring at least 35 points. The defense also gave up 451 yards passing and 603 yards in total offense to a Michigan team that had been anemic before it feasted on the Buckeyes.

Head coach Urban Meyer’s charge in the offseason is to fix a unit that was beyond broken.

He waved goodbye to co-defensive coordinator Everett Withers, who landed the head coaching job at James Madison University. Unexpectedly, defensive line coach Mike Vrabel opted for an assistant coaching job with the NFL’s Houston Texans.

However, those two moves allowed Meyer to restructure his defensive coaching staff without firing anyone.

Withers was considered a terrific recruiter, but never found his stride as a secondary coach and was unable to put a stamp on the defense in Columbus.

Vrabel was considered a rising star as a recruiter, but was in just his third year with a whistle around his neck. His inexperience stuck out, as Ohio State’s defensive line rarely pressured opposing passers. Critics also noted the Buckeyes did not take advantage of their talent and depth, and were loath to rotate fresh bodies into the game.

Meyer responded by upgrading, perhaps significantly, at both spots.

On Jan. 23, Withers’ position was given to former Wisconsin and Arkansas defensive coordinator Chris Ash, who also will coach the Buckeyes’ secondary — the Achilles heel of this past season’s team.

Ash was the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Arkansas in 2013 and had the same responsibilities in 2011 and 2012 at Wisconsin.

“This is one of the top-five college football programs in the country,” Ash said. “The opportunity to work for coach Meyer and to learn as a part of his staff will absolutely enhance my knowledge of the game and my coaching experiences.”

Ash, 40, improved Arkansas’ pass defense by more than 50 yards in his one season, with the Razorbacks’ defense finishing 72nd nationally in passing yards allowed after ranking 113th in 2012.

His two Wisconsin defenses were ranked in the top 25 nationally in virtually every category. The Buckeyes are well aware. In the 2012 game at Camp Randall, Ash’s defense limited Ohio State to 236 yards. The Buckeyes prevailed in overtime, 21-14.

“We’ve competed against a Chris Ash defense before and I have respect for him as a coach,” Meyer said.

Ash has a co-defensive coordinator title. Despite one media outlet’s report that “Ash will be under defensive coordinator Luke Fickell on the organizational chart,” the latter didn’t leave the Razorbacks to take a subordinate position in Columbus.

Meanwhile, on Jan. 15, Vrabel’s spot was taken by longtime Penn State defensive line coach Larry Johnson, who also was given the title of assistant head coach. In recruiting circles, Johnson is a legend. In 2005-06, Rivals.com named Johnson its national college football recruiter of the year.

Johnson coached along the defensive line for 18 years at Penn State. He was the interim head coach before being passed over for the top job in favor of Vanderbilt’s James Franklin. Some have theorized Johnson joined the Buckeyes, Penn State’s biggest rival, out of spite.

Whatever the case, the Nittany Lions’ loss is the Buckeyes’ gain.

“I like to teach the basic fundamentals of football,” Johnson said. “I want guys who are fundamentally sound and have the ability to play fast and to play relentless.”

Johnson has coached six defensive linemen who were first-round NFL draft picks, including No. 1 overall selection Courtney Brown. Since 1996, five Nittany Lion defensive linemen were chosen as the Big Ten’s defensive player of the year — more than any other position group in the league.

Talent is not a problem at Ohio State. Meyer is about to put the finishing touches on his third consecutive top-five recruiting class.